for Raiola to explore transfer options when the portal cracks open on January 2, 2026. It’s the second straight offseason where his camp has fielded feelers from other programs, but this time, the vibes feel different—especially after his younger brother Dayton, a top 2026 QB recruit, decommitted from Nebraska last week. If Raiola bolts, it could torpedo the Huskers’ momentum just as they’re sniffing bowl eligibility for the second year under Matt Rhule. Let’s break it down.
Raiola’s Rollercoaster Ride in Lincoln
Raiola flipped his commitment from Georgia to Nebraska in December 2023, drawn by the family ties—his dad Dominic was a Cornhuskers All-American center in the late ’90s—and the promise of being the guy. As a true freshman in 2024, he started all 13 games, throwing for 2,819 yards, 13 TDs, and 11 INTs while leading Nebraska to a 7-6 record and their first bowl berth since 2015. It was raw, up-and-down stuff, but he showed the arm talent that made him the No. 7 overall recruit in the 2023 class.
Fast-forward to 2025: Raiola leveled up, completing 72.4% of his passes for 2,000 yards, 18 TDs, and just six INTs through nine starts. The Huskers ripped off a 6-3 start, including a statement win over then-top-10 Michigan, with Raiola dissecting defenses and elevating transfers like WR Nyziah Hunter (from Alabama) and Dane Key (from Kentucky). But then disaster struck on November 1 against USC—a broken fibula sidelined him for the final four games, and Nebraska stumbled to a 7-4 finish, including a gut-punch 38-17 loss at Penn State. Freshman TJ Lateef stepped in admirably (653 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INTs in five games), but the offense lost its spark without Raiola’s gunslinger magic.
Off the field, Raiola’s a NIL juggernaut—raking in over $3.5 million this year from deals with Adidas and Panini—making him one of the richest QBs in the FBS. Nebraska’s upping its rev-share game for 2026, but as Rhule admitted last summer, Raiola rejected the “easy way out” of the portal after his frosh year despite suitors lining up. Loyalty’s been his brand… until now.
Why the Portal Buzz Feels Real This Time
• Family Fracture: Dayton’s decommitment (he’s now fielding calls from blue-bloods like USC and Oregon) isn’t just a recruiting hiccup—it’s a red flag for dynasty-building. Sources say Dylan’s camp is eyeing a “blank slate” at a program primed for CFP contention, not Nebraska’s 7-5 ceiling.
• Injury Aftermath & QB Depth: Lateef’s emergence (70.4% completion, no picks) has Husker Nation buzzing about a seamless transition, and Nebraska’s locked in 2027 commit Trae Taylor (No. 35 nationally). Raiola’s season-ending injury might’ve planted seeds of doubt about the O-line’s protection—he took 28 sacks in 2025 alone.
• Bigger Ambitions: At 20, Raiola’s got two years of eligibility left and NFL dreams. Why grind in Lincoln when you could chase rings and draft buzz elsewhere? It’s not about cash—Nebraska can match any NIL bag—but contention.
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